1939 - 1945

India

Short Historical
Note

During WW2 India was still part of the
British Commonwealth and as such British awards were available to its servicemen. In this
context, two further awards were specifically related to India's participation in the war
: the Service Medal 1939-1945 and the Recruiting Badge. Furthermore, a number of Indian
states also saw fit to provide medals for their inhabitants for service abroad.

However, at the time there also existed
a movement for Indian independence, lead by Subhas Chandra Bose. With the assistance of
Nazi Germany and Japan, he raised the Provisional Government of Azad Hind (Free India)
which declared war on Great Britain and the United States on 24 October 1943. A number of
troops were raised, largely from Indian POW's and the Order of Azad Hind was created by
the Provisional Government for award to members of the "Indian Legion" in Europe
or the "Indian National Army" in Southeast Asia.

This medal was awarded for three years
of non-operational service in the Indian Forces between 3 September 1939 and 2 September
1945 excluding those that were entitled to the British Defence Medal. Its ribbon colours
represent the Order of the Star of India and the Order of the Indian Empire.

Indian
Recruiting Badge

Perhaps not really a decoration, this
badge was awarded for good services in recruiting.

Local Indian
States Awards

Bahawalpur (now
in Pakistan)

The Bahawalpur 1939-45
Overseas Service Medal was apparently mainly awarded for service in the Middle Eastern
theatre of war but it has also been awarded for active service in Malaya (1st Bahawalpur
Infantry Battalion).

The Victory Star 1939-45 has a blank reverse.

Bikaner

Two bravery decorations
were created - pictures and/or details of them would be welcomed.

Hyderabad

Some 3,200 of the silver(ed ?) Hyderabad
1945 Victory Medal were struck.

Jodhpur

Although a 50 mm
non-wearable medal seems to have been struck, it would appear that no soldier of the
Jodhpur contingent ever received one. The medal pictured was awarded to a British soldier.

Pudukkotai

A Victory Medal is in
existence.

Tripura

Some 500 medals of the
cupro-nickel Tripura 1939-45 War Service Medal are believed to have been struck for award
to the small contingent that served first in India and then in Burma with 15 Corps. Its
ribbon is possibly yellow with red edges and a central band of red-white-red.

Udaipur

A limited number of the 38
mm WW2 Victory Medal were awarded in three classes : gold (25), silver (74) and bronze
(1,987)

Acknowledgment : I'm
deeply indebted to Mr. Emmanuel Halleux for his information and pictures on the Indian
States awards.

The Order of
Azad Hind

Believed to be instituted in 1942.
Three classes of the order and three medals were created and could be awarded either with
or without swords. Nominal awards will most likely have been made but it is doubtful that
actual awarding ceremonies did take place before the order petered out into discontinuity
in late 1944. The various classes are :

Sher-i-Hind (Lion of India)
: neck badge with swords for exceptional bravery, without swords for exceptional
distinguished services towards the Indian Legion/Indian National Army.

Sardar-i-Jang (War Lord)
: breast star with swords for great personal bravery against the enemy, without swords for
distinguished service towards the Indian Legion/Indian National Army.

Vir-i-Hind (Hero of India)
: breast badge with swords for personal bravery against the enemy, without swords for
special services towards the Indian Legion/Indian National Army.

Thamga-e-Bahaduro
(Soldier's Medal) : bronze gilt medal with swords for bravery, without
swords for service towards the Indian Legion/Indian National Army.

Thamga-e-Azadi (Freedom
Medal) : I have found a mention that this silvered bronze medal "with
swords" was awarded for a minimum of 1.5 years of service in the Indian Legion/Indian
National Army.

Shahid-i-Bharat (Martyr of
India) : this bronze medal "with swords" was destined for
posthumous award to the next-of-kin of those that gave their lives for India's freedom. It
is highly unlikely that a medal without swords was created.

Collectors beware : originals of these awards are unlikely to be found, copies on the
other hand are very much in existence.